10 Reasons Why the Chicago Bulls are 3-10

Not only is Scott Skiles speechless about the performance of his team, but so is all of Chicago. In an NBA preseason power ranking, Topupsidepotential.com ranked the Chicago Bulls as the number three team in the East and the number seven team in the NBA. So far, the Bulls are last in the East and are third to last in the NBA. Sad to say, this is not what anyone was expecting. Most people thought that once the Kobe Bryant trade talk ended, the Bulls would be able to focus more on their game. But this was easier said than done. So here is a countdown of the ten reasons why Chicago is playing like "bullshit."

10. Bulls are still lacking a power forward. Tyrus Thomas started the season as Chicago's power forward. After little production, except in Chicago's first win over Detroit, Tyrus was replaced by small forward Andres Nocioni as the starting power forward, even while Luol Deng was injured. Joe Smith has provided a good spark from the bench, but he isn't capable of putting up big numbers or double-doubles. I say just keep on working with Tyrus until he mans up because a smaller line-up is not what the Bulls need.

9. Chicago's rookies aren't adding much depth to bench. Joakim Noah started off the season with an injury, Aaron Gray's surprising preseason performance did not carry on into the regular season, and JamesOn Curry ended up being shipped off to the D-league. Not that we were expecting much, but we want to send one of them to the Rookie Challenge in New Orleans during All-star weekend. All we ask is to do what they did in college...whenever they get the chance to play.

8. Charity stripe is not so generous for the Bulls. The Chicago Bulls are averaging 78% from the free throw line. Chicago shouldn't be surprised by Ben Wallace's 33% free throw percentage, but when Luol Deng is shooting 68% and Andres Nocioni is shooting 66%, who are two of the team's best shooters, then there is a little problem. I sometimes have trouble understanding how someone can shoot a jumper with a hand in your face so easily, but there is only about a 70% chance that you will make an uncontested free throw.

7. Is Big Ben running out of time? John Paxson brought Ben Wallace to Chicago hoping he might fill Chicago's void of a big man. This 4-time Defensive Player of the Year might have reached his peak. At the age of 33, he is only averaging 7.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.3 blocks, as well as 4.5 points. So is Chicago back to where they started 2 years ago?

6. Still waiting for Tyrus and Thabo to emerge. The upside of both Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha is so immense that it may be years until we get to see some real game come from them. With Tyrus being replaced by Nocioni in the starting line-up and Thabo not getting as much playing time as undrafted rookie Thomas Gardner, there is not much Chicago has seen from these two...except for the usual sick nasty dunks by Tyrus. Together, they average only 11.1 points.

5. They aren't winning the games they should be. Basically, Chicago should have won their first four games but somehow did not. It's sad that their first 4 games of the season (New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers), were also some of the easiest of the season. They can't beat them, but they manage to pull off their first win against the then undefeated Detroit Pistons. What's up with that?

4. Umm...they are not playing good basketball?? What more can I say? They just suck at the moment. The past two years, Chicago has gotten off to a slow start, but this time is different. The inconsistency of the Bulls' play is beginning to worry all of Chicago, especially now that they're on their crazy Western conference road tour.

3. Chicago's three-headed bull is being taken by the horns. Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, and Kirk Hinrich are averaging a combined 42 points, which is considerably lower than last year's 56.8 points. These are the guys who must carry the offensive. If they can get their game together, they will receive more help on offense from Nocioni, Duhon, and Thomas.

2. The Bulls can't shoot for shit...at the moment. I'll just give you cold hard statistics. The Bulls have a field goal percentage of 44%, and they are also shooting 37% percent from the 3-point line. They are only averaging 86.5 points per game, while their opponents are averaging 96.5 points per game.

1. Let's face it...Chicago needs Kobe. With trade talks involving Kobe being thrown out the window, so were Chicago's hopes of being one of the greats of the Eastern conference once again. Everyone figured Chicago's emerging talent would be enough, but their record says otherwise. Kobe is currently the NBA's second leading scoring, averaging 27.9 points per game. I'm sure he will continue to be unhappy in Los Angeles, but at least the Lakers have him.

I will continue to cheer for my Chicago Bulls. All I can say is that they have to start getting their shit together.

Chicago's Three-Headed Bull

The Bulls were the only winning team in the Eastern Conference not to have an all-star on their roster. In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors did not have an all-star either. Can anyone recall how they did in the playoffs this past season? Just like the Warriors took down the Mavericks, the Bulls find a way to do this as well. Known mainly for their defense, the Bulls depend on these three players to carry the offensive load.
Luol Deng- Why the hell was he not an all-star last year?? Everyone was saying he should be. Somehow Washington's Caron Butler made it just because of a short first half of the season burst. But whatever...everyone knows the game of Deng. Deng is one of the best inside spot-up shooters, as well as a deadly slasher. Second on the team in rebounding and third in steals, Deng knows how to play a little defense as well. Averaging the most minutes for the Bulls with 37.5 a game, Deng will play every game like it's his last. Deng will come back this season stronger, faster, and even better.

Ben Gordon- If the Bulls could have one go-to guy, Ben Gordon would be the closest thing. Chicago gets a lot of criticism for not having a game finisher who the Bulls could turn to in a time when the game is on the line. But Gordon has gotten it done before. Ray Allen gets a lot of credit for being one of the premiere shooters in the NBA, but Ben Gordon actually had a better field goal and 3-point percentage than Allen. Gordon has improved majorly at driving and drawing the foul. Whether he's in the starting line up or coming off the bench, Gordon will be getting down to business.

Kirk Hinrich- Kirk has a tendency to be a hot-cold, as well as foul-prone, but Coach Scott Skiles turns to him to be the leader of this team. Kirk has come a long way since he was drafted in 2003. Over the years, his stats have remained consistent, but he helps his team improve. Whether he is dropping the 3-ball, dishing out the assist, or locking down on defense, Hinrich is never dorment. His love of the game and his team are all a part of his tremendous attitude. Hinrich, in my opinion, is one of the most under-rated point guards in the NBA.

These are the heads that make up this Chicago monster. These are the guys who walk into any game with no fear in their eyes. Deng, Gordon, and Hinrich all depend on one another to carry their load every game and to help each other out along the way. All I have to say about these guys is that the size of their wallets is no match for the size of their hearts.